Door stop



July 21, 1964 J. H. GRAY 3,141,188

DOOR STOP Filed Nov. 21, 1960 IN VENTo/Q: Jnmss hmewsv ERA);

HTTOENE/S United States Patent 3,141,188 DOOR STOP James H. Gray, 3t.Louis, Mo., assignor to Brennan-Gray Corporation, (Ilayton, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed Nov. 21, 196i), Ser. No. 70,735 Claims.(Cl. 1686) This invention relates to a door guard, and particularly to adoor guard that is movable to a position for engaging the floor, to aposition for acting as a bumper between the door and an adjacent walland to a position from which it will automatically engage the fioor tointerrupt an abrupt opening force applied to the door.

The door guard includes a rod that is pivotally supported by a bracket.There is a spring that biases the rod in an upward direction whereas theweight of the rod opposes the force of the spring. The spring normallyholds the rod with its resilient free end slightly raised above thefloor below the door to which the stop is attached. The force of thespring is such that the weight of the pivotally supported rod gives it asufiicient inertial force to overcome the strength of the spring whenthe door is jerked open.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a door guard thatwill automatically interrupt an abrupt opening force applied to a door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door guard that can bepositioned to permit normal operation of the door, but which willoperate to stop the opening of the door when it is pushed with a suddenforce.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door guard thatcan be moved into position to act as a buffer against banging the dooragainst an adjacent wall. A subsidiary object is to provide means forlocking the door guard in buifer position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door guard that can bemoved into floor-engaging position for blocking movement of the door inan opening direction, including means readily operable by a persons footto lock the door guard in floor-engaging position. A subsidiary objectof the invention is to provide means for latching the locking means sothat the door guard will remain in floor-engaging position, whichlatching means is also readily releasable by engagement by a personsfoot.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the door guard;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the door guard taken from the rightside of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section on an enlarged scale taken along the line44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of the upper left hand corner of the doorguard with parts broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the mechanism for limiting the movement ofthe locking means that maintains the door guard in floor engagingposition;

FIGURE 7 is a view in section on an enlarged scale similar to that ofFIGURE 3 with the door guard locked in fioor-engaging position; and

FIGURE 8 is a view in section of the upper part of the door guard ofFIGURE 7 with the door guard locked in buffer position.

Referring to the drawings, the door guard 10 is supported by a bracket11 that is fastenable to the side of a door D by screws 12. The bracket11 includes a face plate 13 having the generally diamond-shaped outlineclearly illustrated in FIGURE 1. A pair of supporting wings 14 dependforwardly from the face plate 13 and at 3,141,188 Patented July 21, 1964Ice right angles to it. The wings 14 are spaced apart and are joined attheir upper ends by a top plate 15. The upper surface 16 of the topplate 15 acts as a seat for a spring to be described, the lateralconfines of the spring seat being defined by a pair of block members 17having inwardly spacing opposed arcuate surfaces 18.

The lower forward edges 19 of the wings 14 are tapered rearwardly. Afront plate 20 extends between the wings 14, rearward of the forwardedges 19. The upper edge 21 of the front plate 20 is located so that thefront plate will not interfere with the operation of the door guardwhile yet providing structural support.

Each of the wings 14 has a hole 22 through it, the holes 22 beingcoaxial. A shaft 23 is rotatably supported by the holes 22 and extendsbetween the wings 14. Fixed to the shaft, (at least partly by an eyebolt 51 that will be further described) is a rod 24 having a hole 25through one end for receiving the shaft 23. As can be seen from thedrawings, the rod 24 has a tapered mid-portion 26.

The lower end of the rod 24 has a pin 27 extending from it, the pin 27having an enlarged head 28. A resilient bumper or buffer 23 is snappedover the head 28 of the pin 27 and abuts the lower end of the rod 24.The bumper 29 is formed of a suitable rubber or plastic.

The forward side of the rod 24 is notched to form an abutment 32 nearits upper end. A vertically slidable sleeve casting 33 having thegeneral shape of a tapered half cylinder, as illustrated in thedrawings, has a lower edge 34 that is movable into engagement with theabutment 32 to restrict the upward swinging movement of the rod 24. Thecast sleeve 33 has a top plate portion 35, the rearward edge 36 of whichis slightly spaced from the face plate 13 of the bracket 11 to permitthe cast sleeve 33 to slide freely. The cast sleeve 33 is guided in itsmovement by a pair of vertical grooves 38 formed in the outer surfacesof the wings 14 and into which extends a pair of inwardly dependingvertically elongated projections 39 formed in the opposite sides of thecast sleeve 33.

A compression spring 40 is seated against the top surface 16 of theplate member 15 within the confines of the blocks 17. The compressionspring 40 normally engages the under surface of the top plate portion 35of the cast sleeve 33 to bias that sleeve upwardly. However, the castsleeve 33 can be locked in a lowered position by a latch 42 fixed to apin 43 for pivotal movement within a recess 44 in the face plate 13 ofthe bracket 11. The pin 43 rotates within a pair of holes 45 at eitherside of the recess 44. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, there is a coilspring 46 looped about the pin 43 and having one end 47 fixed to theface plate 13 and the other end 48 fixed to the latch 42. The coilspring 46 biases the latch 42 away from the face plate 13 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 7.

The latch 42 has a notch 50 formed in its lower forward end for engagingthe rearward edge 36 of the sleeve top plate 35 as shown in FIGURE 7.Therefore, when the cast sleeve 33 is depressed a sufficient distanceagainst the force of the spring 40, the coil spring 46 will cause thelatch 42 to automatically snap outwardly from the face plate 13 with thenotch 50 of the latch. 42 engaging the end 36 of the sleeve top plate35.

The cast sleeve 33 is readily released from the latch 42 upon shovingthe latch 42 against the face plate 13 by foot pressure against it. Whenthat occurs, the compression spring 40 will cause the cast sleeve to beautomatically raised to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The size of the coil spring 40 (shown unstressed in FIG- URE 8) is suchthat it supplies only enough force to move the sleeve 33 above the notch50.

A small eye bolt 51 is fastened to the rod 24 and extends into the shaft23 to prevent axial movement of the shaft relative to the rod 24-.Another eye bolt 52 is threaded into the front plate 20 of the bracket11, and there is a tension spring 53 connected between the eye bolts 51and 52. The tensionspring 53 biases the rod 24 in a clockwise directionas viewed in FIGURES 3 and 7. Opposing the force of the tension spring53 is the weight of the rod 24, and the spring 53 is calibrated so thatthe weight of the rod 24 will cause it to normally occupy the positionillustrated in FIGURE 3. In that position, the lower extremity of theresilient bumper 29 is slightly elevated above the floor F A spring clip54 is fixed to the rod 24 within a suitable recess 55. The clip 54cooperates with a notch 56 formed in the bracket 11 to lock the rod 24in a substantially horizontal position. The rod 24 can be moved to thehorizontal position upon raising it by a person's foot, providing thecast sleeve 33 is released from the latch 42. As the rod 24 approachesthe horizontal position, the clip 54 snaps within the notch 56 asillustrated in FIGURE 8. Also, as the rod 24 is raised, the cast sleeve33 will be raised by virtue of the contact by the lower edge 34 with theforward surface of the rod 24. The rod 24 is returned to the normalposition illustrated in FIGURE 3 by depressing it with a sufficientforce to release the clip 54 from the notch 56. Thereafter, the weightof the rod will return it to its normal position. At the same time, theweight of the cast sleeve 33 will cause it to drop into the normalposition illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The sleeve 33 is freely slidable within the grooves 38. However, thereis a stud 57 through the front of the sleeve 33 that abuts the undersurface of the plate to limit the upward movement of the sleeve 54. Thestud 57 thus prevents inadvertent removal of the sleeve 54.

It will be observed that, in spite of the versatility of the door guard,it has only a small number of parts and is easily assembled. The bracket11 includes the face plate 13, the wings 14, the cover plate 15 and thefront plate as a single casting. After the spring clip 54 has been fixedto the slot 55, in the rod 24, the rod is attached to the bracket byplacing it between the wings 14 with the hole aligned with the holes 22.The shaft 23 is then inserted into position and fixed in place by theeye bolt 51 (accomplished most easily by pivoting the rod 24 upwardly asfar as the plate 15 will allow). After the eye bolt 52 is threaded intoplace, the tension spring 53 is hooked between the eye bolts.

The latch 42 is mounted after the coil spring 46 has been positionedwith its end 47 within the recess in the face plate 13. The latch isaligned with the other end 48 of the coil spring in the latch recess andthe pin 43 is inserted through one side of the face plate 13, the coilof the spring 46, the latch, and the other side of the face plate. Thepin may be locked against axial movement by a pressfit, peening over itsends, or other conventional method.

After the compression spring has been placed upon the spring seatbetween the blocks 17, the projections 39 on the cast sleeve 33 are slidinto the grooves 38 in the sides of the wings 14. The stud 57 is thenthreaded into place.

After the door guard has been fastened to the side of a door D, itsoperation may be controlled entirely by a persons foot. The normalposition of the door guard is that illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3because, unless the sleeve 33 is forced downward, the compression spring40 will maintain its top 35 above the notch 50 in the latch 42.Therefore, the bumper 29 on the end of the rod 24 will be slightlyraised above the floor F because of the spring 53.

With the normal operation of the door D, the inertial movement of therod 24, tending to pivot it above the shaft 23 toward the floor F, willbe insufficient to overcome the force of the spring 53, and the bumper29 will remain above the floor. However, when the door D is given asudden push in an opening direction, the weight of the rod 24 willovercome the force of the spring 53, and the bumper 29 will engage thefloor F. The composition of the bumper being chosen so that it will notslide along the floor, and because of the angle of the rod 24 (as shownin FIGURE 7), the door guard will prevent further opening movement ofthe door D.

Quite obviously, this automatically operative feature of the door guardis quite important. For example, when the door is opened a small amountin response to a knock or other indication of a visitor and the visitor,proving to be intrusive, attempts to thrust the door wide open, hiselforts will be thwarted by the automatic operation of the door guard.

The door guard may be used as a night lock by depressing the cast sleeve33 until it is latched in a lowered position by the latch member 42. Inthat condition, the bumper 29 will remain wedged against the floor. Itmay be released the following morning by pressing the latch 42 againstthe face plate 13 to release the sleeve 33. The force of the spring 53will cause the rod to be raised. If the frictional engagement betweenthe bumper 29 and the floor resists the spring, the rod may bepositively raised by a foot after it is released.

A further use of the door guard involves raising it until the springclip 54 snaps into the notch 56. The guard may then be used as a bufferto prevent hanging of the door or its door knob against an adjacentwall. The guard is released from the buffer position by applyingsufficient downward prsesure to free the clip 53 from the notch 56.

A particular advantage of the door guard is that it may be operated tolock the door in any specified partly open position. For example, if itis desired to provide room ventilation accompanying about a six inchspace between the free end of the door and the adjacent door frame andyet prevent the door from being blown further open by gusts of wind, theusers foot is placed flat on the floor at six inches from the door guardwhen the door is closed. When the door is opened far enough, the bumper29 on the guard slides downwardly against the side of the foot andengages the floor to lock the door. Because the bumper 29 is closer tothe floor F than the top of the users foot, there is no danger ofmashing the foot.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the process of thisinvention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: l

l. A door stop comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to the sideof a door a short distance above the bottom of the door, a rod havingone end pivotally supported by the bracket so that the weight of the rodbiases the rod downwardly about the pivot support, spring 1 the floorbeneath the door, and with the free end of the rod spaced further fromthe door than its supported end, means for releasing the locking meansso that the spring means can pivot the free end of the rod away fromthedoro, means for releasably locking the rod in a positionsubstantially normal to the door, and means for locking the rod with itsfree end aganst the floor comprising slidable block means slidablysupported by the bracket and engageable with the rod to limit its upwardmovement.

2. The door stop of claim 1 including means for releasably locking theblock means in its rod engaging position, and spring means forautomatically moving the block means out of rod engaging position whenthe block locking means is released.

3. A door stop for stopping a door against the floor beneath the doorcomprising a mounting bracket for attachment to a side of a door, a rodpivotally attached adjacent one of its ends to the bracket for swingingmovement of its free end in a plane normal to the side of the door, aresilient bumper attached to the free end of the rod, spring meansattached between the rod and the bracket for maintaining the rod in aposition with the bumper raised above the floor, abutment means on therod, a detent comprising a hollow casting supported by the bracket andmovable into engagement with the abutment means to limit the upwardmovement of the rod, and a latch supported by the casting for releasablylatching the casting in engagement with the abutment means.

4. The door stop of claim 3 wherein there are spring means supported bythe bracket for biasing the casting upwardly when the latch releases thecasting.

E5 5. The door stop of claim 3 wherein the rod is swingable to asubstantially horizontal position and there are means for releasablylocking the rod in the substantially horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,044,728 Basler Nov. 19, 1912 1,415,493 Strayer May 9, 1922 1,704,967Fuller Mar. 12, 1929 2,491,246 Bloomfield Dec. 13, 1949 2,762,641Gilmour Sept. 11, 1956 2,964,780 Blankenship Dec. 20, 1960

1. A DOOR STOP COMPRISING A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SIDEOF A DOOR A SHORT DISTANCE ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR, A ROD HAVINGONE END PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE BRACKET SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE RODBIASES THE ROD DOWNWARDLY ABOUT THE PIVOT SUPPORT, SPRING MEANS FORBIASING THE ROD UPWARDLY ABOUT THE PIVOT SUPPORT, THE MOMENT APPLIED BYTHE SPRING MEANS BEING GREATER THAN THE MOMENT APPLIED BY THE WEIGHT OFTHE ROD, MEANS FOR LOCKING THE ROD WITH ITS FREE END AGAINST THE FLOORBENEATH THE DOOR, AND WITH THE FREE END OF THE ROD SPACED FURTHER FROMTHE DOOR THAN ITS SUPPORTED END, MEANS FOR RELEASING THE LOCKING MEANSSO THAT THE SPRING MEANS CAN PIVOT THE FREE END OF THE ROD AWAY FROM THEDORO, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THE ROD IN A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLYNORMAL TO THE DOOR, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE ROD WITH ITS FREE ENDAGAINST THE FLOOR COMPRISING SLIDABLE BLOCK MEANS SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BYTHE BRACKET AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE ROD TO LIMIT ITS UPWARD MOVEMENT.